Spring-support for wagon-shafts.



' P. W. ZELLER.

SPRING SUPPORT FOR WAGON SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1909.

961,?QB Patented June 14,1910.

BTATEB PATENT @FFTQE.

PAUL W. ZELLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YQRK.

SPRING-SUPPORT FOR WAGON-SHAFTS.

Application filed November 1, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL W. ZELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Supports for Wagon-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in supporting-devices for shafts or thills on vehicles; but is more especially adapted for platform wagons which are provided with straight shafts.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide practical and simple means .for sustaining the shafts on a wagon in an elevated position, so as to remove the weight of the shafts from the back of a horse; thus allowing a horse more freedom of action and eliminating all possibility of chafing the back of the horse.

Another object is the provision of means for securing the spring sustaining-device to the forward ends of the hounds through the medium of a sleeve secured to opposing lugs.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the tension of the spring sustaining-device so as to resist the weight of the shafts and hold them in elevated position for the purpose in view.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference -will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several figures: in which,-

Figure 1 illustrates in a front perspective view, the running gear of a platform wagon with the improved spring supporting-device secured thereon, the shafts being broken away. Fig. 2 illustrates in a longitudinal section, the improved device on an enlarged scale with fragmentary parts of the hounds and shafts. Fig. 3 illustrates the spring sustaining-device in a perspective view removed from its operative position. Fig. 4: illustrates an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 4l4:, Fig. 2, with the hanger in front elevation, and a portion of the yoke also in elevation. Fig. 5 illustrates the hanger in perspective view, removed from the hounds. Fig. 6 illustrates one of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 525,718.

the supporting lugs, in perspective view, having a loose sleeve thereon. Fig. 7 illustrates the opposing lug in perspective view.

A represents the fifth wheel, which is supported on hounds B and side bars B also end bars B and central transverse bars B The platform is secured to a bolster C, to which is hinged the shafts or thills D; said shafts being provided with a cross-bar E for holding the same together. Secured near the front end of the hounds are opposing lugs F which "support a tubular roller G adapted to rotate partially on said lugs F when the wagon is running. Mounted on said tubular roller G is a spring sustaining or supporting-device H designed to keep the shafts of a wagon or vehicle in an elevated position. By this means the weight of the shafts does not come on the back of a horse, and the shafts remain in their adjusted position. The tubular roller G acts as a fulcrum for said spring supporting-device II, it passing through an eye it formed on said spring-device. ,The spring supporting-device is constructed of wire or bar iron or steel, which is doubled upon itself and extends in opposite directions from its fulcrum point. The free end of said spring-device is formed into a loop h which is always in contact with the underside of the cross bar E, except when the shafts or thills are elevated. By this means said shafts D are supported through the medium of the opposite end members D of said spring supporting-device. The members D are screw-threaded at d, and somewhat inclined downward so as to allow for adjustment of the spring supporting-device. A yoke I is slidably mounted on said screw-threaded members D for holding the spring supporting-device in position with regard to the hounds B. By sliding said yoke on the underside of said hounds, the tension of the spring supportingdevice can be varied to regulate the weight and height of the shafts to meet any requirements necessary. Adjacent said yoke I is a hanger J, which is suspended between said hounds by laterally-projecting ears K at the upper end of said hanger. To hold said yoke and hanger in their adjusted position, nuts L and M are provided. The

hanger J has slots J formed therein to allow the screw-threaded members D vertical movement when adjusting the spring supporting-device.

When the wagon is not in use, the shafts are usually placed at right-angles to the body of the wagon, in which case, the spring supporting-device is deprived of the weight of the shafts on the contacting end H and if the hanger J were not employed, said spring supporting-device would swing on its fulcrum and assume a vertical position. Such movement, however, is entirely obviated by the employment of said hanger, which, through the medium of the members D passing through the slots J thereof and the cooperation of the yoke I, retains the supporting-device in proper position.

When extremely heavy shafts are employed on a wagon, two springs can be utilized on opposite sides of the hounds, and act and perform the functions of a single spring but with double the strength or power.

I claim 1. A supporting-device for holding the shafts of a wagon in an elevated position comprising a tubular roller, a spring fulcrumed on said tubular roller and extending. in opposite directions from its fulcrum point, one end of said spring being in contact with the under side of a cross-bar secured to said shafts, a yoke bearing against the under side of the hounds of said wagon and having the opposite end of said supporting-device adjustably secured thereto, and a hanger supported on said hounds and sustaining said yoke and supporting-device.

2. A supporting-device for holding the shafts of a wagon in an elevated osition, comprising a tubular roller, a spring fulcrumed on said tubular roller, opposing lugs secured to the hounds of said wagon and having their free ends entering into and supporting said tubular roller, said spring extending in opposite directions from its fulcrum point with one. end thereof in contact with the under side of a cross-bar secured to the shafts, a yoke bearing against the under side of. the hounds of said wagon and having the opposite end of said supporting-device secured thereto, and a hanger supported on said hounds and sustaining said yoke and supporting-device.

3. A supporting-device for holding the shafts of a wagon in an elevated position, comprising a tubular roller, a spring fulcrumed on said tubular roller, opposing lugs secured to the hounds of said wagon with their free ends entering into and supporting said tubular roller, said spring extending in oppositedirections from its fulcrum point and having one end thereof in contact with the under side of a crossbar secured to the wagon shafts, a yoke bearing against the imder side of the hounds and having the opposite end of said supporting-device secured thereto in an inclined position, and a hanger supported on said hounds and sustaining said yoke and supporting-device.

4. A spring supporting-device for holding the shaft of a wagon in an elevated position having a yielding front end held in contact with the under side of a cross-bar secured to said shafts,,a yoke to which the rear end of said supportingdevice is secured and whereby it is held in an inclined position, and a hanger having vertical slots formed therein through Which the rear end of said supporting-device is passed and which serves to sustain said yoke and supporting-device.

5. The combination with a platform wagon having a bolster, a platform and hounds secured thereto, shafts hinged to said bolster, a spring supporting-device fulcrumed between its ends to said hounds and having its free end in contact with the cross-bar connecting the shafts of said wagon, a yoke bearing against the under side ofv said hounds, and a hanger suspended between said hounds and having the rear end of said supportingdevice passed therethrough.

6. A supporting-device for shafts of platform wagons, comprising a wire or bar doubled upon itself to provide two members having an eye formed thereon between opposite ends, a tube extending through said eye, and lugs secured to the hounds of said wagon and entering opposite ends of said tube, the front end of said supporting-device being in contact with a cross-bar attached to said shafts.

7. The combination with a wagon having straight shafts and a platform including hounds, of a spring supportingdevice formed of wire or bar meta'l doubled upon itself at a point midlength to provide a loop 7 signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I PAUL W. ZELLER. Witnesses:

ELLA O. PLUEGKHAHN. EMIL NEUHART. 

